Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill

Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill (pronounced [ˈmaiɾʲəd̪ˠ nʲiː ˈɣoːn̪ˠəlʲ]; born 1951) is an Irish traditional singer from Gweedore, County Donegal, although was brought up mainly in Kells, County Meath as part of a government scheme to create a new Gaeltacht area near Dublin.

Background

She was brought up in Kells, County Meath from a young age. Her parents were native Irish-speakers from Ranafast, County Donegal and was therefore brought up speaking the language, along with her sister Tríona and brothers Conall and Mícheál. She comes from one of Ireland's best-known musical families, her father being a well-known song collector and songwriter and her aunt, Néillí Ní Dhomhnaill having written some of Ireland's best known traditional songs.

Musical career

Maighread first came to prominence as a member of the group Skara Brae. The other members of the group were Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (her brother), Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (her sister) and Dáithí Sproule. The only recording that the group made still remains a classic. The songs on her solo albums are mostly sung in Irish. Mícheál and Triona accompanied her on the album "No Dowry". Her 1976 debut album was issued under the name "Mairéad Ní Dhomhnaill", but since then she has changed the spelling of her first name to "Maighread".

Personal life

Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill is married to Cathal Goan, the director-general of Ireland's largest television corporation RTÉ

Discography

Solo albums

- Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill (1976)
- Gan Dhá Phingin Spré (No Dowry) (1991)
- Idir an Dá Sholas with Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Dónal Lunny (1999)